PlayStation®2 Continues to Lead Category With Sales of Additional 1.5 Million Units During Critical Holiday Sales Period

Sony Computer Entertainment America Inc. today announced that it sold an additional 1.5 million PlayStation 2 computer entertainment systems since Thanksgiving week, bringing the overall installed base to 6.5 million units since its October 2000 debut. In addition, PlayStation and PlayStation 2 software sales accounted for more than two thirds of the lucrative videogame software market during the month of November, according to the TRSTS reports from the NPD Group, a leading market research firm which tracks the videogame industry. Sales from the PlayStation family of products -- hardware, software and peripherals -- generated more than $700 million in retail revenue during this timeframe. The company previously announced that total PlayStation category sales are projected to bring in more than $1 billion retail revenue during December alone.

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As software sales drive hardware in the videogame business, consumers know that the best games are available on PlayStation 2 this season. While Konami of America's PlayStation 2 exclusive Metal Gear Solid® 2: Sons of Liberty™ enjoyed the top spot as the best-selling videogame in November, PlayStation software overall accounted for five of the top 10 selling software titles and more than 60 percent of the overall sales volume. According to the November '01 TRSTS reports, these top selling games included Grand Theft Auto 3 from Rockstar Games, Tony Hawk's Pro Skater™ 3 from Activision, Harry Potter: Sorcerer Stone™ from Electronic Arts, Madden NFL 2002 from EA Sports, and WWF Smackdown from THQ.

"Clearly, data for the first month of the holiday sales season indicates that the entire PlayStation family of products will soundly outsell all competitors combined, despite the heralded introduction of new game consoles during this important month," said Jack Tretton, senior vice president, Sony Computer Entertainment America Inc. "We recognize the importance of delivering products that provide the greatest overall value for the consumer, and are happy to see that consumers are placing their support behind the PlayStation brand once again this holiday season."

Analysts have stated that the company's sales performance can be attributed to its commanding lead on the software side of the business due to the quality of its PlayStation title offerings, the number of titles available on the market and the overall software sales volume on a month-to-month basis. PlayStation and PlayStation 2 offer more than 1,400 game titles across a diverse range of genres that appeal to hardcore gamers and mainstream audiences alike for both PlayStation and PlayStation 2.

About Sony Computer Entertainment America Inc.

Sony Computer Entertainment America Inc. continues to redefine the entertainment lifestyle with its PlayStation® and PS one™ game console, and the PlayStation®2 computer entertainment system. The PlayStation 2 computer entertainment system is set to revolutionize the home entertainment market, offering the most compelling interactive content and the capability to be used as a network terminal in the coming broadband era.

Recognized as the undisputed industry leader, Sony Computer Entertainment America Inc. markets the PlayStation family of products and develops, publishes, markets and distributes software for the PS one game console and the PlayStation 2 computer entertainment system for the North American market. Based in Foster City, Calif. Sony Computer Entertainment America Inc. serves as headquarters for all North American operations and is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Sony Computer Entertainment Inc.

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SOURCE: Sony Computer Entertainment America Inc.

Contact: Lesley Gold, +1-415-856-5214, or Lgold@blancandotus.com, for
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